Urban Swimming in Bern, Switzerland - YouTube Urban Swimming in Bern, Switzerland Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Aug 13, 2009 You might know Switzerland for its snow-capped mountains, but on a hot summer's day people take to the rivers and lakes to cool down. Take the plunge in the lovely River Aare, and float through Bern. (Raffaella Rossello, swissinfo.ch, 12.08.2009) Category Aare Trail Bike Tour - Switzerland - Germany | Tripsite Share This Tour Skill Level The route mostly follows well maintained cycle paths and very quiet side roads. A few inclines, which are quite manageable for all types of bikers.

Day-To-Day Itinerary (Scroll down to see the shortened itinerary!) Day 1: Arrival and overnight in Interlaken Day 2: Interlaken - Thun - Bern, 22 miles (35 km) + boat trip Day 3: Bern - Biel, 31 miles (50 km) Day 4: Biel - Solothurn, 19 miles (30 km) Day 5: Solothurn - Aarau, 37 miles (60 km) Day 6: Aarau - Waldshut-Tiengen, 31 miles (50 km) Day 7: Waldshut-Tiengen - Schaffhausen, 40 miles (65 km) Day 8: Schaffhausen - Constance/Kreuzlingen, 31 miles (50 km) Day 9: Individual departure or extension of stay *All distances are approximate. DAY 1: Arrival to Interlaken Interlaken, meaning between the lakes, is uniquely situated between the pristine lakes Thun and Brienz.

Created during the last glacial period, these lakes boast crystal clear waters whose banks are home to picturesque fishing villages and ancient castles. Interlaken also finds itself surrounded by the impressive snow capped heights of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau, part of the Bernese Alps. DAY 2: Interlaken - Thun - Bern, 22 miles (35 km) + boat trip ​Leaving Interlaken, you will pass through the town of Thun, located on the lower end of the lake. Situated in the center of this historic place is a magnificent castle, built by the Dukes of Zähringen dating back to the 12th century. Continuing along the Aare, your destination today is Bern. Although it is the capital of Switzerland, Bern has managed to maintain its unique historical features such as 15th-century terraced buildings, cobblestone streets, and lively market squares - it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983!

DAY 3: Bern - Biel, 31 miles (50 km) After Bern, the Wohlensee extends a warm welcome – and now you will witness the merry interplay between the dazzling beauty of nature and the industrial world of energy production. The vegetable-growing region in the Grossen Moos and later on the Lake of Biel mark the scenery of today’s route. The city of Biel, the largest in Switzlerland, is the watch metropolis of the world. Rolex, Omega, and Tissot, among others, all have their home here. Biel's old town has a beautiful town hall and a gothic church dating from the 15th-century, certainly not to be missed during your stay here! DAY 4: Biel - Solothurn, 19 miles (30 km) Following Biel, the Aare remains as your faithful cycling companion. The storks of Altreu circling in the sky provide a very special addition to your trip, and soon the towers of the Solothurn Cathedral greet you from afar.

In Solothurn, you may roam the picturesque lanes of the old center with its outdoor cafes, and perhaps venture an excursion to the local Weissenstein mountains. DAY 5: Solothurn - Aarau, 37 miles (60 km) Riding leisurely through an enchanting river landscape between Berken, Aarwangen and Wolfwil, you will reach Aarau. Perfectly situated in the center of the city triangle of Zurich, Basel, and Lucerne, Aarau was Switzerland's first capital and home to the first Houses of Parliament. An appreciation of the arts can be felt here from the numerous cinemas, theaters, and museums, and of course the Aargau Art Valley, which has one of the most beautiful and extensive public collections of Swiss art dating from the 18th century to the present. DAY 6: Aarau - Waldshut-Tiengen, 31 miles (50 km) Across the German border, today's destination is nestled in the southern Black Forest where the Aare flows into the Rhine: Waldshut-Tiengen. Waldshut-Tiengen is home to many medieval gates and towers, and is vibrant with rustic charm.

Be sure to explore the castle, the parish church, and admire the beautiful Gothic houses along the way. DAY 7: Waldshut-Tiengen - Schaffhausen, 40 miles (65 km) Back again to Switzerland, the day's trip will end in Schaffhausen. Most impressive about this Swiss town is the imposing Munot Fortress, which can be seen for miles. From the battlements of this stronghold, built between 1564 and 1589, you can see far and wide. Every evening at 9 p.m., the Munot guard who lives in the tower rings the Munot bell, which used to be a sign that the town gates and inns should close. DAY 8: Schaffhausen - Constance/Kreuzlingen, 31 miles (50 km) From Schaffhausen, the last bike ride will lead you to Constance, or right across the river to Kreuzlingen. Constance is a lively university town lying on the shores of beautiful Lake Constance. It has been a city since as early as the 1st-century AD, and quickly became a religious center.

In the Old Town, you'll find the famed cathedral dating back to the 7th-century. Due to a border anomaly, the German city Constance lies on Switzerland’s land mass, and the Swiss town of Kreuzlingen is only a short walk away. DAY 9: Departure from Constance/Kreuzlingen. 6-Day Itinerary Day 1: Arrival in Bern Day 2: Bern - Biel, 31 miles (50 km) Day 3: Biel - Solothurn, 19 miles (30 km) Day 4: Solothurn - Aarau, 37 miles (60 km) Day 5: Aarau - Zurich, 37 miles (60 km) Day 6: Departure from Zurich Looking for a different flavor? Check out our entire list of bike tours in Europe or view all our featured bicycle tours , news, and specials.

Pricing Information 9-Day Tour: Season A: $ 1348 £ 856 $ 1,400 € 989 $ 1437 kr 7700 kr 7700 CHF 1078 $ 1,078 Season B: $ 1484 £ 942 $ 1,542 € 1089 $ 1583 kr 8479 kr 8479 CHF 1187 $ 1,187 Season C: $ 1552 £ 985 $ 1,612 € 1139 $ 1655 kr 8868 kr 8868 CHF 1242 $ 1,242 Single Supplement: $ 327 £ 208 $ 340 € 240 $ 349 kr 1869 kr 1869 CHF 262 $ 262 6-Day Tour: Season A: $ 939 £ 596 $ 9

75 € 689 $ 1001 kr 5364 kr 5364 CHF 751 $ 751 Season B: $ 1034 £ 657 $ 1,074 € 759 $ 1103 kr 5909 kr 5909 CHF 827 $ 827 Season C: $ 1075 £ 683 $ 1,117 € 789 $ 1147 kr 6143 kr 6143 CHF 860 $ 860 Single Supplement: $ 218 £ 138 $ 226 € 160 $ 233 kr 1246 kr 1246 CHF 174 $ 174 Season A: April 22 to April 28 + October 1 - October 15, 2017 Season B: April 29 - May 19 + June 18 - June 30 + August 27 - September 30

, 2017 Season C: May 20 - June 17 + July 1 - August 26, 2017 extra options Electric Bike Rental $ 95 £ 61 $ 99 € 70 $ 102 kr 545 kr 545 CHF 76 $ 76 Return Transfer (Saturday) $ 116 £ 74 $ 120 € 85 $ 124 kr 662 kr 662 CHF 93 $ 93 Extra night in Zurich $ 123 £ 78 $ 127 € 90 $ 131 kr 701 kr 701 CHF 98 $ 98 Single Supplement $ 41 £ 26 $ 42 € 30 $ 44 kr 234 kr 234 CHF 33 $ 33 Extra night elsewhere $ 89 £ 56 $ 92 € 65 $ 94 kr 506 kr 506 CHF 71 $ 71 ​Single

 supplement $ 34 £ 22 $ 35 € 25 $ 36 kr 195 kr 195 CHF 27 $ 27 Children's bicycles available on request.

please note Ron Zauski 3 years ago Fantastic! We biked the Aare two years ago and it was great. We sought something a bit more challenging and selected this ride. We stayed in lots of small towns, biked on beautiful trails, and saw scenery just as exquisite as is shown on this site. Salzburg was outstanding. We had only one stretch of riding on a road with traffic; otherwise, it was serene. Ron Zauski 5 years ago First of all the scenery was breathtaking. We loved the fresh air, mountains, and lovely Swiss towns and villages. Bern was outstanding. The bell ringing cows, einstein’s home, the blue waters of the Aare and the lakes were outstanding. We flew to Zurich, trained to Meiringen, got our bikes smoothly, and we were off. The weather was perfect and the “standard” bikes were high quality. We chose the “standard” hotels and each one you chose was outstanding. The luggage was always at the next hotel before we arrived. Breakfast at each hotel was diverse and tasty. You could improve upon the instructions. The book we received from Swiss trails was very good for high level view of the trip. Your additional paper copies were slightly helpful.

It would be great if you could provide a few hints via map or written description of some confusion spots along the way. We found ourselves lost every day, but we were able to recover due to the nicely posted trail markers found throughout Switzerland. When we completed the trip, we concluded that we could have done the trip without luggage. Perhaps provide a trip discount for those requiring no luggage transfer. Aare River | river, Switzerland | Britannica.com river, Switzerland Seine River Aare River, also spelled Aar, tributary of the Rhine and the longest stream (183 miles [295 km]) entirely within Switzerland; it drains an area of 6,865 square miles (17,779 square km). The river rises in the Aare Glacier of the Bernese Alps in Bern canton, below the Finsteraarhorn and west of the Grimsel Pass, in the south-central part of Switzerland . As the Aare flows north past Meiringen, the river cuts through the scenic Aare Gorge. After turning west, it expands into the glacial Lake Brienz.

The river is canalized at Interlaken above its entry into Lake Thun, at the lower end of which the river flows northwest in a deeply entrenched valley and almost encircles the medieval core of the city of Bern . It turns west to Lake Wohlen and then flows north to Aarberg, where it is diverted west by the Hagneck Canal into Lake Biel . Continuing northeastward, the river parallels the foot of the Jura Mountains . Below Brugg, the Reuss and Limmat rivers join the Aare before it enters the Rhine River at Koblenz, Switz. The confluence of the Aare and Reuss rivers, Switzerland. Lutz Fischer-Lamprecht Corrections? Updates? Help us improve this article! Contact our editors with your feedback. MEDIA FOR: You have successfully emailed this. Error when sending the email. Try again later. Edit Mode Submit Tips For Editing We welcome suggested improvements to any of our articles. You can make it easier for us to review and, hopefully, publish your contribution by keeping a few points in mind. Encyclopædia Britannica articles are written in a neutral objective tone for a general audience.

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Close Date Published: November 11, 2008 URL: Access Date: January 05, 2017 Share Close-Up: Swimming in Berne's fast-flowing city river - BBC News Media playback is unsupported on your device Close-Up: Swimming in Berne's fast-flowing city river 8 August 2010 Last updated at 00:49 BST Much of Europe has experienced sweltering summer weather over recent weeks. So it's not surprising when people look for a cool and shady spot, and maybe even a refreshing dip. But how easy is that in a busy city in a land-locked country? In the Swiss capital Berne, people have a spectacular solution to the problem, using the fast-flowing river Aare. And as Imogen Foulkes discovers, it is not an activity that is advisable for everyone; swimmers must be confident and know what they are doing before they take the plunge. Bernhard Fleuti of Berne's life saving association is one of those on stand-by in case things go wrong. It is not advisable to copy the activities shown in this video.

Berne travel guide - Wikitravel 16 Get out Berne [1] (German: Bern), the capital of Switzerland , is a small to medium sized city with a population of about 130,000 in the city proper and roughly 350,000 in the agglomeration area. It sits on a peninsula formed by the meandering turns of the river Aare. The remarkable design coherence of the Berne's old town has earned it a place on the UNESCO World Heritage List . It features 4 miles of arcaded walkways along streets decked out with fountains and clock-towers. Bern was one of the eight host cities in the 2008 European Football Championships . Understand[ edit ] Views of the old-town. Berne was founded in 1191 by Duke Berthold V von Zähringen and was part of the Holy Roman Empire. It was made a free imperial city by the Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II in 1218 after Berthold died without an heir. In 1353, Berne joined the Swiss confederation. After several successful conquests, Berne became the largest independent city state north of the Alps.

It was occupied by French troops in 1798 during the French Revolutionary Wars, and was stripped of a large part of its territory. The city became the Swiss capital in 1848. High technology for the 13th century. The 'Zytglogge' clock tower is found in the center of the old-town. Talk[ edit ] The main language spoken in Berne is Bernese-German, a local Swiss-German dialect, although most people also speak Standard German. The dialect is mostly spoken, but also used in text messages etc. In official publications and announcements, Standard German is used. English seems to be supplanting French as the favorite second language of the Bernese, even though the canton of Berne is a bilingual German and French speaking canton. However, many people you encounter as a tourist will be able to speak both so it's certainly worth a try. Get in[ edit ] Berne is in the center of Switzerland and is very well connected with the rest of the country.

By plane[ edit ] Berne's small international airport Bern-Belp (BRN) [2] with direct flights from Cologne Munich , Barcelona , Paris , London via LCY (city airport) as well as several seasonal destinations in Europe lies just a few kilometers south of the city. A taxi ride into the city costs approx. CHF 45.- Bus 160 and 334 go from the airport to Belp in 8 minutes, from where S-Bahn suburban trains (lines S3, S31, S4 and S44) connect to Berne in 13 (S4, S44) to 21 (S3, S31) minutes. The ticket for the whole journey (bus + train) costs CHF 6.40 Berne is connected to Zurich Airport (ZRH) in 75 minutes by IC train routes St. Gallen - Winterthur - Zürich Hbf - Berne - Genève Aéroport or Romanshorn - Winterthur - Zürich Hbf - Berne - Brig. From Geneva Airport (GVA) there are direct IC trains to Bern which take approx. 2 hours.

By train[ edit ] Bern is conveniently located in the vast network of Swiss Federal Railway between Geneva , Basel and Zurich and is served twice per hour by express (InterCity) trains from each of these cities as well as Zürich and Geneva airports. Hourly express trains take you into all directions, including Interlaken , Brig , and Lucerne . For more information: Swiss Federal Railway, ☎ +41 (0)900 300 300 (CHF 1.19/min), [3] . Provides a useful online travel planner which includes information about local bus and tram services as well as rail services and can plan your journey from door to door. edit Swiss Travel System, [4] . is a great source of information for finding the best ticket as a tourist. It is a must to visit, as regular, full fare tickets are expensive. This site tells you what is the best option for your needs. edit By car[ edit ] Berne is easily reachable with the national motorway network from all directions and has several exits from motorways A1, A12 and A6.

Get around[ edit ] The church Münster seen from Kirchenfeldbruecke Berne has an excellent public transportation system, with frequent local city services provided by trams, trolleybuses and buses, together with an S-Bahn rail system for longer journeys into the surrounding suburbs. By foot[ edit ] The city center of Berne is easily accessible by foot. You can get around the main shopping area and restaurants simply by walking. But if you are going to go outside of the city center in areas like Guisanplatz, it's better to go by tram unless you want to be walking for 45 minutes. By tram and bus[ edit ] Bernmobil, ☎ +41 (0)31 321 88 88, [5] . The operator of the local tram and bus services, providing timetables and other information on its web site or by telephone. edit Bern Ticket, [6] . If you stay overnight in a Hotel in the city of Berne, you receive a free Bern Ticket for your whole stay, which lets you travel for free on public transport in zones 100/101.

edit By rail[ edit ] Berne's S-Bahn rail system will take you to many places in the suburbs and even to other nearby cities like Biel, Thun, Fribourg or Solothurn. S-Bahn Bern, ☎ +41 (0)31 327 27 27, [7] . Web site in German only. edit By car[ edit ] As in most Swiss cities, free parking space is rare and the paying ones in the city center are quite expensive. As the center is quite small and all of the major attractions are within a mile walking distance it's a good choice to park in a "park and ride" and take public transport to the center of town. Paying Car Parks in Bern, ☎ 0800 727 536, [8] . (Web site in German only.) edit By bike[ edit ] You can get a free bike for four hours at "Bern rollt" [9] . All you need is a passport or an ID and 20 CHF for deposit, and you can explore Berne by bike. After four hours, you'll have to pay 1 CHF for each additional hour.

There are three places where you can get bikes (see map [10] ): Milchgässli/Hauptbahnhof (main station), open all year. Hirschengraben and Zeughausgasse, open from May to October. By taxi[ edit ] There are taxi stands next to the main station and a few more taxi stands in the inner city. Some major taxi companies are: Nova-Taxi, ☎ +41 (0)31 331 33 13, [11] . (Web site in German only.) edit Bären-Taxi, ☎ +41 (0)31 371 11 11, [12] . (Web site in German only.) edit BETAX, ☎ 0800 90 30 90, [13] . Transport for the disabled, people in a wheelchair etc. (Web site in German only.) edit The Federal Palace of Switzerland Zentrum Paul Klee Berne is full of history and museums.

It also has quite a bit of public art, all of which is marked on a walking map which is available from the tourist office in the train station for free. Berne Historical Museum, Helvetiaplatz 5, ☎ +41 (0)31 350 77 11, [14] . Monday closed. Switzerland's second largest historic museum, combining under one roof one of the country's most important ethnographic collections together with the Bernese historical collections from prehistory to the present day. It includes the Einstein Museum. CHF 13 for permanent exhibition, CHF 18 for Einstein Museum. edit Bundeshaus (Federal Palace of Switzerland), Bundesplatz 3, [15] . The Swiss House of Parliaments is a representative building dominating the Square. Constructed by the end of 19th century. Free guided tour when the Parliament is not in session. During session only access to the spectators ranks. Free. edit Einsteinhaus, Kramgasse 49, ☎ +41 (0)31 312 00 91 ( webmaster@einstein-bern.ch ), [16] .

10AM to 5PM (4PM Saturdays) March to October, 1PM to 5PM (Noon to 4PM Sat) March and February. Einsteinhaus is closed on Sundays in March and February. It's completely closed in January. Albert Einstein rented this small flat with his wife during his years working at the Swiss patent office. Their first child, Hans Albert, and the special and general theories of relativity were born here, where Einstein's writing desk overlooked the busy street and its lovely clock-tower. There are numerous photos and original documents from Einstein's life, work, and speeches. CHF 6/4.5 Adults/Students.. edit Invasion of Berne -- successful!, [17] . As you explore, you may notice these small alien graffiti mosaics. GAME NOT OVER was declared by the anonymous Parisian artist "Invader" in 1998. Since then, space invaders have been reappearing on the walls, bridges and roofs of cities across the world, most famously on the Hollywood sign and in several locations in the Louvre. Two additional Swiss cities have been invaded: Geneva and Lausanne .

Those with 10 EUR, a longer visit, and a weird sense of humor might consider ordering a map and doing the space invader tour. edit Kunstmuseum (Museum of fine Arts), Hodlerstrasse 12, ☎ +41 (0)31 328 09 44, [18] . Closed on Mondays. The Museum of Fine Arts Berne is known for its collection of works of painters such as Pablo Picasso, Ferdinand Hodler and Meret Oppenheim. It is the oldest art museum in Switzerland with a permanent collection and houses works covering eight centuries. edit Swiss Alpine Museum, Helvetiaplatz 4, ☎ +41 (0)31 350 04 40, [19] . A museum showing the full variety of the Swiss mountains. edit Tierpark Dählhölzli (Zoo), Tierparkweg 1, ☎ +41 (0)31 357 15 15, [20] . Summer: 8AM - 6:30PM, Winter: 9AM - 5PM.

Berne's zoo is located along the Aare river, with many outdoor enclosures that actually integrate the river. edit Zentrum Paul Klee, Monument im Fruchtland 3 (Bus No. 12 to the end of the line), ☎ +41 (0)31 359 01 01, [21] . 10-17 except closed Mon.. The Paul Klee centre which is in a modern wave-shaped building presents the world's most important collection of works by Paul Klee (rotating exhibition drawn from 4000 works, or 40% of his oeuvre). If you plan on visiting, then the CHF20 "Berne card" validated for that day (show it at the ticket counter to receive a complimentary pass) is totally worth its price - you'll spend about that for bus round trip and the ticket alone. CHF 20.- (in 2013). edit Zytglogge, [22] . The Clock Tower near the center of the old town, built around the turn of the 13th century, is a great thing to see.

On the hour, every hour throughout the day, there is a stunning display of early animatronic technology. The locals are proud to tell you it's "the longest running act in show business". A few minutes before the hour, it begins with a little song and some drumming by a jester on top. On the hour, bears and an old bearded king get into the act. It's great for kids to see. The clock tells time too, as well as the month, day, sign of the zodiac and phase of the moon. There are guided tours inside the tower that will let you have a look at the clockwork while the show is displayed outside. It can be booked at the tourist office and is definitely worth it if you love mechanics. Free. edit Do[ edit ][ add listing ] The View from Gurten Hill Bear Park, [23] . Open all day. Berne is inseparably linked with bears. According to legend the city’s founder, Duke Berchtold V von Zähringen, named the city after the first animal to be caught here. The saga lives on in the form of the real-live bears in the Bear Park and the heraldic bear in the Bernese coat of arms.

Members of the RSPCA have found the former bear pits quite depressing. The good news is that the site was recently (2009) enlarged into a park. The bears have now even the possibility to go for a swim in the river, and there is a cave for hibernation. The Bear Park can be easily reached by bus number 12 from the railway station in Berne in direction Zentrum Paul Klee and getting off at "Bärengraben" bus stop. Free. edit Gurten, [24] . The Gurten is a lovely hill just outside the city. It features a park and great view over the city on one side and a nice panorama of the Bernese alps on the other. The park is visited heavily by locals to play ball, to barbecue or to just lie in the sun. Tourists are not an unusual sight, though this little attraction is missed by most of the many that visit the city. Hiking paths lead in all directions and you will almost certainly stumble across some cows when walking around. A wooden look-out tower allows an even better panorama than that you would already have. If you get hungry or thirsty, a good budget restaurant service and self-service provides you with all you need.

Families with children should not miss the cool playground. The Gurten can be easily reached with tram number 9 from the railway station in Berne in direction Wabern. Exit the tram at station Gurtenbahn and walk a few steps up the hill. Then take the Gurtenbahn [25] , a panorama train that will bring you on top in just 5 minutes, round-trip tickets are CHF 9 for adults or CHF 4.50 for children (BernCard is valid), departure usually every 20 minutes depending on daytime. A club called up-town features various cultural events on weekends and once a year in summer national, European and a few international music stars (among others Alanis Morisette, Skin, Moloko and Jimmy Cliff in 2003) visit it for the Gurtenfestival, an open-air music festival [26] . Gurten is a must see for everybody visiting the city for longer than a day. Free. edit Rosengarten, [27] . Little park with a splendid view over the old town. Situated close to the bear pits (follow the path that goes up the hill opposite the bear-pit-roundabout.

Quite popular (and populated) during lunchtime. The Rosengarten can be easily reached by bus number 10 from the railway station in Berne in direction of Ostermundigen Rüti. edit SC Bern. The SCB is Berne's ice-hockey team. The stadium is the second largest in Europe and is regularly sold out, producing an impressive atmosphere in the arena. It is also mentionable that the SC Bern boasts the highest average attendance outside the NHL. To get there, just take Tram Nr. 9 towards Guisanplatz and get off at the terminal stop. edit Swimming in the river Aare. On hot summer days, let yourself drift for some kilometers in the river Aare. Good (and safe) stretches are between the Kornhausbridge and the public pool of the Lorraine (old fashioned swimming pool just next to the river) and between the Eichholz and the public pool of the Marzili. Other stretches such as swimming the bend around the old town (starting at the "Englische Anlagen" to the Lorraine) or the "Bremgartenschlaufe" are only to be done by good swimmers accompanied by experienced locals.

BTW: Entrance to public pools is free of charge. This makes it a good idea to choose a swim that ends at a public pool so you can have a shower afterwards. edit Tramdepot, [28] . Just next to the bear pits you'll find the tram depot, the old final station of Berne's first tramway. The building now houses the town's most popular brewpub, and the tourist office, with free shows on the city's history at regular intervals. edit Bern Pub Crawl (For free), (We will move to a different bar each hour), [29] . Pub crawl for all, mostly every first Friday of the month! Check website for additional info. The bar scene in Bern is interesting and vivid, so what a better way to enjoy more than one bar on a single day, while meeting new friends in these social and fun environments? Prepare to meet some interesting locals and international crowds. Don’t worry about having a lame Friday & feeling slouchy. edit Events[ edit ] Gurtenfestival, [30] . In July the Gurten hill is host for an open air festival with many national and international music acts.

During these four days you will find a party crowd of up to 25'000 people on the hill day and night. 1 day pass CHF 75, 2 days 115, 3 days 155, 4 days 195. edit shnit International Shortfilmfestival, [31] . Since 2003 the annual festival celebrates every October in Bern the art of short films. shnit is one of the largest short film festivals in the world, playing in 10 different cities simultaneously - attracting in Bern 25.000 attendances. edit International Jazzfestival Bern, [32] . A jazz festival with international reputation is held in Berne every year since 1976. edit Buskers Bern, [33] . Since a few years the annual street musician festival is taking place in the picturesque old town streets. You don't need to buy a ticket but are encouraged to buy a festival pin or give donations to the musicians which come from all around the world. edit Learn[ edit ] Berne is home to the prestigious University of Berne [34] which currently enrolls approximately 13,000 students.

In addition, the city has the University of Applied Science also known as Berner Fachhochschule. There are also many vocational schools and an office of the Goethe Institut. Buy[ edit ][ add listing ] Marktgasse lies right in the centre of the 6km long shopping arcades As with most other cities in Switzerland , store opening and closing hours in Berne are strictly regulated. All stores, including grocers, close by 7PM or 7.30pm from Monday to Friday, except on Thursdays when they remain open until 9.30PM. Aldi supermarkets are an exception, closing at 8PM during the week. On Saturdays everything must close by 5PM. On Sundays, all stores are closed, except for those in the main railway station, which are open 7 days a week until about 10PM, and which include Migros and Coop supermarkets. Rathausgasse and the streets parallel to it have any number of cute shops with an amazing range of handicraft and luxury goods. This is not the normal range of swiss souvenir stuff, but really interesting things.

There are a couple of worthy examples below, but the real pleasure is in spending a few hours (or days) exploring the arcades and vitrines. Yamatuti, Aarbergergasse 16-18, ☎ +41 (0)31 318 26 56. Open M,Tu,W,F 10AM-6:30PM, Th 10AM-9PM, and Sa 10AM-5PM. Unique toys and kitsch collectibles pack the walls of this cramped space. edit Krompholz Music, Spitalgasse 28 (Just around the corner from the main train station), ☎ +41 (0)31 311 3489 ( info@krompholz.ch ), [35] . Open Mon to Sat 10AM to 5PM. The thing that makes this shop special is its huge collection of sheet music and English language music instruction materials. Pretty good CD section with lots of Swiss artists, both pop and folk.

edit There are several used book stores that carry cheap books in German, English and French: Bücherbergwerk Monbijou, Monbijoustrasse 16 (on the street through which tram line 9 descends from Hirschengraben near the main station, in the basement of the building marked ''SWICA''), ☎ +41 (0)31 381 71 25. Open Tu-F 10AM-5PM and Sa 11AM-3PM. The used books store of the Swiss Workers' Aid Society. edit Bücher-Brockenhaus Bern, Rathausgasse 34 (in the old city between the Zytglogge and the Rathaus), ☎ +41 (0)31 311 44 59, [36] . Open Di-Fr 2PM-6.30PM, Sa 9AM-12PM, 2PM-4PM. edit Solothurn | Switzerland | Britannica.com Switzerland Zug Solothurn, (German), French Soleure, capital of Solothurn canton, northwestern Switzerland . It lies along the Aare River , south of Basel .

It originated as the Celtic and Roman stronghold of Salodurum, occupying a strategic position at the approach to the Rhine from the southwest. The medieval town grew around the remains of the Roman castrum (fort) and a house of secular canons, which was founded in the 8th century in honour of St. Ursus. The dukes of Zähringen acquired jurisdiction over the town in 1127, but with the extinction of that house in 1218 it became a free imperial city and took the canons under its protection. In 1295 it allied itself with Bern , through which it became associated with the Swiss Confederation. An unsuccessful Habsburg attack in 1382 drew Solothurn into the Battle of Sempach , and it was included in the treaty of 1394 by which the Habsburgs renounced their claims to all territories within the Confederation. In the 15th century the town acquired by purchase or conquest the main part of the territories of the present canton, and in 1481 it was admitted to full membership in the Confederation. The Clock Tower, Solothurn, Switz.

Daniel Schwen Dominating the town is the Cathedral of St. Ursus (1762–73, on an earlier foundation), which since 1828 has been the cathedral church of the bishop of Basel. Other notable buildings are the Jesuit church (1680–88), the Clock Tower, or Zeitglockenturm (1250), the 15th-century town hall, and the Zeughaus, or Arsenal (1610–14), which houses Switzerland’s finest collection of armour and old weapons. Solothurn also has some fine 16th-century fountains, bulwarks , and gates that survive from the medieval fortifications, as well as a modern museum. The city’s industries include watchmaking, engineering, and the manufacture of machinery, electrical and technical equipment, and paper. Solothurn’s position at the foot of the Jura Mountains and near the navigable portion of the Aare River has always made it a junction of various routes; seven railway lines branch off there. The population is German speaking with a Roman Catholic majority. Pop. (2007 est.) 15,184. Learn More in these related articles:

Question: Which European city lies on the river Aare?
Answer: Bern